Oyedepo made the remarks during a sermon, where he stressed that no religious group, ethnic group or political class should regard Nigeria as its exclusive possession.
The founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide said Nigerians should reject the idea that any particular group has greater ownership or entitlement to the country than others.
“Muslims don’t own Nigeria, we’re not tenants to the Fulanis, no Nigerian is more Nigerian than others. We own this country together. Politicians don’t own the nation, Nigerians own the nation,” he said.
The cleric also questioned the idea of voting for political candidates based solely on their religious identity, urging citizens to look beyond religious considerations when making political choices.
His comments centred on national ownership, unity and the need for Nigerians to recognise their shared responsibility for the country’s future.
Oyedepo argued that political leaders are elected to serve the people and should not be regarded as owners of the nation.
The remarks come amid continuing public discussions about Nigeria’s religious and ethnic diversity and the role of identity in the country’s political and social life.
Nigeria is home to people from hundreds of ethnic groups and different religious backgrounds, making national unity and peaceful coexistence recurring themes in public discourse.
Oyedepo’s message was therefore framed around the idea that Nigerians, irrespective of their backgrounds, have an equal stake in the country and should contribute to its development.
He emphasised that the responsibility for Nigeria’s progress should not be left exclusively to politicians, but should involve citizens across different sectors of society.
His statement has since generated reactions online, with the remarks drawing attention particularly to his call for Nigerians to see themselves as equal stakeholders in the nation.
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